Carton feeding mechanism



' Feb. 27, 1940. c. RICHARD 2,191,536

CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F11! April 23, 1938 Feb 27, 1940. c. F. RICHARD CARTON FEEDING MECHANISM 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filid April 23, 1938 1 c. F. RICHARD azum'royl FEEDING MECHANISM Iilcdlpril 23, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES CARTON FEEDING IMECHANISM Charles F. Richard, Battle Creek, Mich., as-

signor to Johnson Automatic Sealer 00., Ltd., Battle Creek, Mich" a limited partnership as-.

s'oclation of Michigan Application April 23, 1938, Serial No. 203,928

19 Claims. (Cl. 211-43 This invention relates to devices for feeding carton blanks in knocked-down or collapsed form from a supply of such blanks to a carton making machine, and more particularly to carton feeders 6' of the magazine type wherein the blanks are stacked on edge in substantially vertical position and are fed to the carton forming mechanism by a sliding movement parallel to the flat surfacesof the blanks as they stand in the magazine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a-new and improved form of magazine type carton feeder which will be efficient, dependable and rapid in operation, and especially well adapted for use with high speed, continuous motion carton making machinery.

Another object is to provide a novel form of conveyor mechanism for advancing the carton blanks in a magazine to the feeding or transfer position, which mechanism is so constructed and controlled as to limit the advance of the foremost blank in the stack to a predetermined position so as to insure accurate operation of the feeding means.

A further object is to provide a blank feeding or transfer mechanism of novel construction which is movable in' the line of advance of the carton blanks so as to automatically adjust itself to the exact position of the foremost blank in the stack, and which, by its movements, controls the operation of the conveyor mechanism of the magazine.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved form of transfer mechanism which is especially constructed to compensate for variations in the shape of carton blanks due to bowing or warping, and to thereby insure continuous feeding in spite of differences in the characteristics of individual blanks.

A still further object is to provide a carton blank feeder of the magazine type which is readily adjustable for use with cartons of various sizes.

These and other objects will appear more fully upon a consideration of the detailed description of the embodiment of the invention which follows. chine has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be expressly un- 50 derstood that these drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to'the appended claims;

55 In the drawings, wherein like reference char- Although only one specific form of maacters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of magazine type carton feeding mechanism embodying the present invention; 6

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1, and including a section through the driving cams taken substantially on line 3-3 in the latter figure; 10

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional side view of a portion of the feeding end of the mechanism taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; ll

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing certain of the details of the transfer mechanism and taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line |--l of Fig. 5.

The carton feeding mechanism of the present invention comprises as its principal elements a magazine for supporting a supply of knockeddown or collapsed carton blanks stacked on edge 88 in substantially vertical position, an intermittently operative, positively actuated conveyor for advancing the blanks toward a feeding position at one end of the magazine, a floating or pivoted transfer device movable in the line of advance of U the blanks and including a transversely slidable feeding member adapted to engage one edgeof the foremost carton in the stack and to slide it sideways out of the magazine, and a control mechanism operatively connected with the mov- 35 able transfer device for temporarily rendering the magazine conveyor inoperative to advance the carton blanks whenever the foremost blank in the stack advances beyond a predetermined po sition. While a feeder of this character may be used in connection with carton forming machines of various constructions, it is particularly well adapted for use with high-speed, continuous motion machines of the type wherein the collapsed carton blanks are delivered by the feeder to horizontally movable pockets in which the blanks are opened and squared out and from which they are loaded onto continuously moving forming blocks, the latter then carrying the blanks during the bottom closing operation. However, since the carton making machine is not itself an essential part of the present invention, it is unnecessary to illustrate or further describe the same.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically Bl to the magazine construction shown best in Figs.

1-4, it will be seen that the bed plate ll 'of'the magazine is supported on standards I! by means of a pair of threaded rods or adjusting screws l3 fixed at their upper ends to the bed plate and extending downwardly through internally threaded sprocket carrying members 14 which are rotatably supported at their lower ends on the cross members II of standards 12. By rotating the sprocket carrying members i4, which are suitably held against upward movement on the threaded portions of adjusting screws It, the bed plate II and the entire magazine construction supported thereby may be raised and lowered to assist in adjusting the magazine for use with different sizes of carton blanks.

To this end, the sprockets of members l4v are interconnected by a driving chain l6, and one of the sprocket carrying members l4 (the righthand one in Fig. l) is suitably connected in any desired manner for rotation with a bevel gear l1 rotatably mounted with respect to adjusting screw i3 below cross member I5 and meshing with a second bevel gear i8 which is secured to a shaft I9 extending longitudinally, and beyond the feeding end, of the magazine. The shaft i9 is suitably journalled at one end in a bearing supported from cross member l5 and at the other end in a bearing 2i which may conveniently be mounted on the frame 22 of the carton making machine with'which the feeder is associated. The shaft It} has secured thereto a suitable hand wheel 23 by means of which the magazine raising and lowering mechanism may be operated In order to assist in properly supporting the magazine, the bed plate II is also provided with four downwardly extending guide rods 24 which are slidably received in suitable guides 25 carried by the standards l2.

At the forward or feeding end of the magazine, the bed plate II has secured thereto a pair of bearing brackets 26 and 21 in which is joumalled the drive shaft 28 of the magazine conveyor mechanism. Fixed to drive shaft 28 for rotation therewith, but adjustable axially therealong, are three sprocket wheels 29, and 3|, sprockets 29 and 30 lying between bearing brackets 26 and 21 while sprocket 3| is mounted on the extended end of drive shaft 28 which projects outwardly beyond bearing bracket 26 and the side edge of bed plate H (to the left as viewed in Fig. 3). To the opposite end of bed plate II is secured a double bearing bracket 32 which rotatably supports in longitudinally adjustable bearings a shaft 33 on which are mounted three more sprocket wheels 34, and 38, complementary to those indicated at 29, 30 and 3| and so arranged on the shaft 33 as to be coplanar with the latter.

Passing around sprocket wheels 29 and 34 is an endless conveyor chain 31; sprocket wheels 30 and 35 are also connected by a similar chain 38. The upper reaches of conveyor chains 31 and 38 travel on top of and are supported by a pair of longitudinally extending bars 39 and 49, which are mounted above the upper surface of bed plate I l by means of suitable brackets 4|, said brackets being so constructed as to permit the adjustment of supporting bars 39 and 49 toward and away from one another when adjusting the magazine to handle different size cartons. As shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, the carton blanks, indicated generally at 42, are supported on edge in a stack on top of the upper reaches of conveyor chains 31 and 38.

In order to hold the carton blanks in substantially vertical position as they are supported I on conveyor chains 31 and 38. one or more removable back'ing plates 43 may beassociated with the conveyor mechanism'of the magazine, I

these backing plates being supported vertically and connected to the conveyor chains in any suitable manner. In the embodiment illustrated, the backing plates may take the form indicated at 43 in Fig.4, consisting of a plate of a width slightly less than the width of the carton blanks but extending upwardly abovelthe tops of the blanks and having a lateralprojection' on which is provided a downwardly extending lug 45 adapted to enter into the link openings oi a third chain 48; the bottom edge of the backing plate is also provided with similar lugs for insertion into the link openings of conveyor chains 31 and 38. As indicated in Fig. l, the lower reach of chain 48 passes around sprocket wheels 3| and 38, while its upper reach passes around a pair of idler sprockets 41 and 48 rotatably supported in elevated position by brackets 48 and v 49 mounted on double bearing bracket 32 and the forward end of bed plate Ii, respectively.

Bracket 49 also carries a third idler sprocket 50 ment therewith. It will be understood that any.

desired number of backing plates may be used in the magazine, each one being removed when it approaches the feeding end of the magazine and replaced at the opposite end behind a new supply of carton blanks. In this way, the supply of blanks in the magazine may be replenished from time to time without stopping the machine or interfering with the feeding operation.

In order to afford proper lateral support and guidance for the carton blanks as they are moved toward feeding position, a pair of side guide rails 53 and 54 are provided, guide rail 53 being mounted in a fixed position on inwardly off-set portions of supporting brackets 52 while guide rail 54 is carried by a plurality of supporting brackets 55 which are adjustable in a transverse direction relatively to bed plate H to compensate for carton blanks of different widths. As shown best in Fig. 4, the lower ends of brackets 55 are provided with internally threaded bosses 56 through which pass threaded adjusting shafts 51 journalled in suitable bearlugs 58 secured to the bottom of bed plate ll. At one end (the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 4) each of adjusting shafts 51 is provided with a sprocket 59, these sprockets being connected by a driving chain 60 which also passes around a pair of idler sprockets 5i and 62 suitably supported from bed plate II. The opposite end of one of shafts 51 (the left-hand one as viewed in Fig. 2) has secured thereto a suitable adjusting hand wheel 63. Each of supporting brackets 55 is also provided with a guide rod 64 which is slidably received in a bore 65 passing transversely through bed plate ll.

The conveyor chains 31 and 38, and the stacked carton blanks supported thereon, are intermittently advanced toward the feeding end of the magazine by a positively applied force normally. operative once during every cycle of the machine. In the embodiment illustrated, the stepby-step advanceof chains 81 and ll is effected by a pawl and ratchet actuation of driving shaft 28. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the end of shaft 28 which extends outwardly beyond bearing bracket 26 has fixed thereto a ratchet 96 on the hub of which is rotatably mounted an arm 61 carrying a pawl 88. The pawl 68 is continually urged into engagement with the teeth of ratchet 86 by means of a suitable spring 69. The outer end of pawl carrying arm 81 has an adjustable stud and toggle Joint connection with the upper end of a connecting rod 18 the lower end of which is toggle connected to one end of a lever H fulcrumed in any suitable manner on the frame 22 of the carton making machine. The opposite end of lever H carries a cam roll 12 which is continually urged ,by a spring 13 toward contact with the contour of an open cam 14 mounted on and driven by a shaft I5. The shaft 16 may also be Journalled in the frame 22 of the carton making machine,- and is suitably driven in synchronism with the other elements of that machine.

With this construction, rotation of cam 14 normally produces one oscillation per cycle of the pawl carrying arm 61 which in turn intermittently rotates conveyor driving shaft 28 through an angle such as to advance the conveyor chains 81 and 88 a distance equal to the average thickness of a collapsed carton blank. If all carton blanks were of exactly the same thickness and were uniformly stacked in the magazine. this mechanism would automatically and successively advance the individual blanks to exactly the proper feeding position. However, it has been found in practice that carton blanks are often warped or bowed, do not always stack uniformly, and sometimes differ in thickness, the result being that a uniform advance of the conveyor mechanism does notinsure a uniform position of the foremost blank in the stack. In such a situation, if the transfer or feeding mechanism is fixed relatively to the magazine in the line of advance of the blanks, improper feeding may result. To overcome this difllculty, the present invention provides a transfer mechanism which is fioating or movable relatively to the magazine in the line of advance of the blanks so as to always properly contact the foremost blank in the stack, and is also provided with a control which temporarily renders the conveyor advancing means inoperative whenever the foremost blank in the stack is advanced beyond a predetermined position.

Before proceeding with a description of the transfer and control mechanism of the present invention, it may be pointed out that, as the' conveyor chains 31 and 38 pass around sprockets 29 and 38, the carton blanks are delivered onto a supporting plate I6 which is mounted on bearing brackets 26 and 21 and inclined slightly upwardly toward the transfer mechanism, extending a suitable distance beyond the position of furthermost advance of the foremost blank in the stack so as to provide a proper support for the blanks as they approach the feeding position. There is also provided an upper guide or hold-down plate 11 which is vertically adjustable to accommodate blanks of different .heights, this plate being supported by a bracket 18 which extends laterally beyond the edges of the blanks at one side -of the magazine so as to receive a pair of vertical guide rods I9 extending upwardly from and secured to the bed plate It. A side uide plate 80o! a height at least equal to the tallest carton blank with which the magazine is intended to be used may also be provided for aligning the side edges of the blanks which are to be engaged by the transfer mechanism during the feeding operation. The plate 88 may be mounted on side guide rail 64, and is suitably cut out so as to avoid interference with the transversely slidable elements of the transfer mechanism next to be described.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the entire transfer mechanism issupported on a shaft 8i which is -iournalled in and supported by a bearing bracket 82 fixed to and curving downwardly and outwardly from the .forward end of bed head is provided with a rectangular frame 88 so constructed as to form a slideway or channel for a transversely reciprocable slide member 89. The slide member 89 is held in the slideway of frame 88 by a pair of upper and lower gibs 98 secured to and extending the length of said,

frame. Suitably fixed to slide member 89, and projecting inwardly toward the front of the stack of carton blanks in the magazine, are a pair of brackets 9i and 92 provided with enlarged, transversely extending blocks or heads 93 and 94, respectively, the inner faces of which are recessed to receive carton blank pusher plates 95 and 96. Slide bracket 92 is so constructed as to extend upwardly above slide bracket 9| in such a manner as to position pusher plate 96 directly above, but spaced vertically from, pusher plate 95.

As shown best in Fig. 6. the carton engaging inner vertical-face of each of pusher plates 95 and 96 is stepped to provide a shoulder 91 of a width slightly less than the thickness of an average carton blank, these shoulders 91 being adapted to engage one of the vertical edges (the right-hand edge as viewed in Fig. 3) of the foremost blank in the stack and to slide the blank sideways out of the magazine when the slide member 89 and the elements carried thereby are reciprocated relatively to feeding head 81 in the manner subsequently described. In order to insure engagement .of the shoulders 91 with the blank edge even though the latter may be warped or bowed, each of the pusher plates 95 and 96 is pivoted at one end on a stud 98 carried by the associated block 93 or 94, and a suitable compression spring 99 is utilized to urge the plate outwardly about its pivot stud toward the foremost blank in the stack. As shown, the compression springs 99 may be housed in recesses I00 formed in blocks 93 and 94 so as to thrust against the backs of pusher plates 95 and 96, the latter being provided with pins I 0| extending outwardly through springs 99 and carrying at their outer ends stop nuts I02 which, by engagement with suitable surfaces formed on blocks 93 and 94, limit the inward movement of the pusher plates.

In order to properly position the transversely slidable elements of the feeding mechanism relatively to the foremost carton blank in the stack, the feeding head 01 is provided with suitable stop means for contacting the outer surface of said blank As shown, a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally extending stop bars I00, the inner vertical surfaces of which are adapted to rest against the face of the foremost carton in the stack, are mounted on spacers I04 fixed to gibs 00. The frame 88 of feeding head 81 also supports by means of spacers I08 a horizontally disposed stop plate I08 the inner edge of which is likewise adapted to contact the face of the foremost carton in the magazine. The pusher plates 85 and 88, stop bars I08 and stop plate I08 are so adjusted relatively to one another that the bases of the blank engaging shoulders 81 are normally coplanar with the blank contacting portions of the bars I03 and plate I08.

In order to continually urge the entire transfer mechanism toward the magazine so as to.

properly position the feeding elements thereof the shaft 8| upon which supportingarm 84 is secured has fixed to one of its ends (the righthand end as viewed in Fig. 3) an arm II extending in a substantially horizontal plane inwardly beneath the magazine, on which arm is mounted a counterweight I08. The weight I08 is of such mass and so positioned on arm I01 as to slightly overbalance the weight of the transfer mechanism and urge shaft 8i and all of the elements supported thereby in a counterclockwise direction. In order to limit the inward movement of the transfer mechanism toward the magazine, supporting arm 84 is provided with a suitable stop lug I09 which is adapted to contact with an upwardly extending stop member IIO carried by bearing bracket 82.

Since it is necessary. for proper feeding to maintain the slide member 88 and the other carton engaging elements of the feeding mech-' anism in vertical position regardless of the angular position of the transfer mechanism with respect to the axis of shaft 8|, feeding head 81 is provided with a horizontal, outwardly extending tail piece III the'outer end of which is connected by a link II2 to the outer end of an extension I I3 of bearing bracket 82. The pivotal connections of the ends of link II2 to tail piece II I and extension II3 are so located that their axes are in the same horizontal planes with those of shafts- 88 and BI, respectively, and are equidistant from the latter. With this construction, a parallel link arrangement is provided which insures retention of the feeding mechanism in a vertical plane regardless of the angular position of supporting arm 84.

In order to reciprocate the slide member 88 and pusher plates 85 and 88 in timed relation with the elements of the carton making machine, the slide member has pivotally connected thereto. the upper end of a substantially L- shaped connecting link II4 (Fig. 3), the lower or horizontal arm of said link being provided with a plurality of holes II5 to enable an adjustable connection to the vertical arm of a bell crank lever H6 which is fulcrumed on a stud II'I carried by a downwardly projecting portion II8 of feeding head 81. The other or horizontal arm of bell crank leve'r H8 is connected by universal joints H9 and I20 and a rod I2I to the outer end of an arm I22 fixed to one end (the righthand end as viewed in Fig." 3) of a rocker shaft I23 journalled in a suitable bearing carried by aromas bearing bracket 02. The opposite end of rocker shaft -I20 has fixed thereto an arm I24 which.

14, is driven in timed relation with the elements I of the carton'making machine. In this manner, the reciprocating movements of the slidable feeding elements of the transfer mechanism are synchronized both with the advancing movements of the magazine conveyor and the operations of the carton forming machine.-

As the individual carton blanks are slid sideways out of the magazine by .pusher plates 00 and 88, they are delivered to the carton making machine in any suitable manner, as by feeding rollers indicated diagrammatically at I and I00. In order to prevent the transfer of more than one carton at a time, rocker shaft 00 has secured to one end thereof (the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 3) a supporting arm I?" extending inwardly closely adjacent the side edge of bed plate I I and carrying at its inner endan upwardly projecting bracket I32 to which is adjustably secured a separator member I33. The inner vertical surface of separator member I00 is adapted to contact the edges of the carton blanks opposite those adjacent side guide plate 00, while the edge I34 of said separator member is so adjusted with respect to stop bars I03 and stop plate I08 by means of an adjusting screw I08 as to permit only one blank at a time to pass by said edge out of the magazine.

With the mechanism thus far described, it will be apparent that, once in every cycle of cam shaft I5, the transversely slidable feeding elements of the transfer mechanism will remove the foremost carton blank in the stack from the magazine by sliding it sideways to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, and conveyor chains 01 and 08 will be positively advanced through a predetermined distance by the pawl and ratchet drive of shaft 28 so as to move all of the cartons in the stack forward a distance approximately equal to the thickness of an average blank. However, as previously stated, the characteristics of individual blanks vary, with. the result that the foremost blank in the stack does not always occupy exactly the same position. While the transfer mechanism of the present invention, because of its floating character, compensates for these variations, it is desirable that the position of the foremost blank in the stack be maintained within limits to insure accurate feedingto the carton making machine. To this end, the mechanism also includes control means for temporarily ceasing the intermittent movement of the conveyor mechanism whenever the foremost carton in the stack is advanced beyond a predetermined position.

As shown, this control is effected by securing to one end of shaft 8| (the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 3) an arm I38 which extends substantially horizontally inwardly beneath the end of driving shaft 28 on which is mounted ratchet 68. The inner end of arm I38 is connected by toggle joints I31 and I38 and connecting rod I38 to another arm I40 which is pivotally mounted at its left-hand end (Fig; l) on a stub shaft I iournalled in a bearing I42 secured to the bottom of bed plate II, the toggle joint Ill being connected to arm I intermediate its ends. The opposite end of arm I carries a latch member or detent I which is so designed that, when elevated to a predetermined'position, it lies in the path of oscillation of a stop stud I carried by and projecting downwardly from pawl carrying arm .1.

Normally, the pawl carrying arm 61 is moved positively in a clockwise direction by the high part of cam 14 so as to advance the conveyor chains 31 and 38, and is returned in counterclockwise'direction without actuation of the conveyor mechanism by the spring 13. However, when the foremost carton in the stack advances to such a position as to cause the transfer mechanism to move outwardly in the line of advance of the blanks, and the supporting arm 84 and shaft II to rotate in a clockwise direction, sumciently to elevate the detent 3 into the path of oscillation of stop stud I, the latter will be engaged by the detent and the pawl carrying arm 61 thereby held against resetting under the influence of spring 13. The conveyor mechanism will then remain stationary until the feeding of one or more blanks out of the magazine permits the transfer mechanism to again move inwardly in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the axis of shaft 8| sufficiently to drop the latchmember or detent I out of the path of oscillation of stop stud I, whereupon the intermittent actuation of the conveyor mechanism will be resumed.

There is thus provided by the present invention an improved form of magazine type carton feeder embodying a transfer mechanism of novel construction which is movable relatively to the magazine so as to automatically adjust itself to the exact position of the foremost blank in the stack, and which is so constructed and arranged as to render the operation of the carton advancing means of the magazine responsive to its movements in the line of advance of the carton blanks. The feeding means of the transfer mechanism is also of novel construction, being operative in timed relation to the other elements of the machine regardless of the position of the transfer mechanism relatively to the magazine, and including means for compensating for variations in shape of the carton blanks so as to insure continuous feeding thereof in spite of differences in the characteristics of individual blanks. These and other features, including the ready adjustability of the feeder to accommodate cartons of different sizes, result in an efllcient and reliable mechanism which is particularly well adapted for use with high speed, continuous motion carton making machinery.

Although only one specific form of mechanism has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the exact structure shown but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. For example, the construction of each of the various groups of elements specifically described may be varied by substituting equivalent mechanism for those illustrated, particularly as regards the various link, lever and shaft arrangements-by which movements of the various elements are transmitted from one to the other. It is also obvious that certain of the features of the invention, such as the floating transfer mechanism and the adjustable feeding elements, are susceptible of use in other combinations than that in which they are found in the embodiment herein disclosed. Various other changes, which will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the blanks in said stack to feeding position, transfer means for succes sively removing individual blanks from said stack including a feeding member, a support for said feeding member, means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said support in a direction transverse to the line of advance of said blanks, stop means carried by said support and adapted to rest at all times against the foremost blank in said stack, means for mounting said support for movement in the line of advance of said blanks, and means responsive to the movements of said support in the line of advance of said blanks for controlling the operation of said conveyor means.

2. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the blanks in said stack to feeding position, a transfer mechanism for successively removing individual blanks from said stack including a feeding member, a support for said feeding member, means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said support in a direction transverse to the line of advance of said blanks, means for mounting said support for movement in the line of advance of said blanks, stop members carried by said support adapted to rest at all times against the foremost blank in said stack and thereby determine the position of said support, and means for temporarily rendering said conveyor means inoperative to advance the blanks whenever said support is moved beyond a predetermined position in the same direction as the advance of said blanks.

3. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the blanks in said stack to feeding position, a transfer mechanism for successively removing individual blanks from said stack including a feeding member slidable transversely to the line of advance of said blanks, means for mounting said transfer mechanism for movement in the line of advance of said blanks, stop members carried by said transfer mechanism adapted to rest against the foremost blank in said stack and thereby determine the position of said transfer mechanism, andsaid blanks, and means for temporarily rendering said force applying means inoperative to actuate said conveyor means whenever said transfer means is moved beyond a predetermined position in the same direction as the advance of said blanks.

5. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member mounted for movement. relatively to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting member for movement transversely to the line of advance of said blanks and including means for engaging the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same out of said magazine, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member.

6. In a carton feeding mechanism of the maga zine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the blanks in said stack to feeding position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member mounted for movement relative to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting member for movement transversely to the line of advance of said blanks and including means for'engaging the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same out of said magazine, and, means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member, and means operatively connected with said supporting member for controlling the operation of said conveyor means.

I. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein means are, provided for intermittently advancing the blanks in said stack toward feeding position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member mounted for movement relatively to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting member for movement transversely to the line of advance of said blanks and including means for engaging the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same out of said magazine, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member, and means operatively connected with said supporting member for temporarily rendering said blank advancing means inoperative whenever said supporting member is moved beyond a predetermined position in the same direction as the advance of said blanks.

8. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of? collapsed car ton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in sub:

stantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the-blanks in said stack to feeding position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member mounted for movement relatively to said maga-. zinc in the line of advance of said blanks, stop means carried by said supporting member adapted torest against the foremost carton in said stack and thereby determine the position of said supporting member, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting member for movement transversely to the line of advance of said blanks and including means for engaging the 'ment relatively to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting member for movement transversely to the line of advance of said blanks, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member, said feeding member including an element adapted to engage one edge of the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same out of said magazine, and yieldable means for urging said element toward said blank to insure engagement with the edge thereof in spite of-variae tions which may occur in the shape of individual blanks.

10, In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed cartons is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a feeding member reciprocable in a direction substantially parallel to the planes of the carton blanks in said stack, an element carried by said feeding member adapted to engage one edge of the foremost blank in said stack toslide the same out of said magazine when said feeding member is moved in one direction, and yieldable means for urging said element toward said blank to insure engagement with the edge thereof in spite of variations which may occur in the shape of individual blanks.

11. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed cartons is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a feeding member reciprocable in a direction substantially parallel to the planes of the carton blanks insaid stack, an element pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends on said feeding member, theopposite end of said element having a 76 portion adapted to engage one edge of the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same out of said magazine when said feeding member is moved in one direction, and a spring interposed between said element and said feeding member for yieldab y urging the edge engaging portion of said element toward said blank to insure engagement with the edge thereof in spite of variations which may occur in the shape of individual blanks.

12. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member pivotally mounted for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said magazine and perpendicular to the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted for reciprocating movement relatively to said supporting member in a direction transverse to said line of advance of said blanks, and means for maintaining the plane of said feeding member substantially parallel to the planes of the carton blanks in said stack regardless of the position of said supporting member with respect to its pivotal axis.

13. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting arm pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis fixed with respect to said magazine and perpendicular to the line of advance of said blanks, a supporting head pivotally mounted on said arm for movement about a horizontal axis parallel to said first named axis, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting head for reciprocating movement in a direction transverse to said line of advance of said blanks, and means including a parallel link system connected to said supporting head for maintaining the plane of said feeding member substantially vertical regardless of the position of said supporting arm with respect to its pivotal axis.

14. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position and wherein conveyor means are provided for advancing the blanks in said stack to feedingposition, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member pivotally mounted for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said magazine and perpendicular to the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidably mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said supporting member in a direction transverse to said line of advance of said/ blanks, means for continually urging said supporting member about its pivotal axis toward said magazine to bring said feeding member into contact with the foremost carton in said stack, and means operatively connected with said supporting member for temporarily rendering said conveyor means inoperative whenever said supporting member is moved beyond a predetermined position in the same direction as-the advance of said blanks.

15. In a carton feeding mechanism of the macazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprisinga supporting member movable relatively to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidable relatively to said supporting member transversely to the line of advance of said blanks, means for continually urging said supporting member toward said magazine to bring said feeding member into contact with the foremost carton in said stack, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member regardless of the position of the latter relatively to said magazine.

16. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting member movable relatively to said magazine in the line of advance of said blanks, a feeding member slidable relatively to said supporting member transversely to the line of advance of said blanks and including means for engaging the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same sideways out of said magazine, means for continually urging said supporting member toward said magazine to bring said feeding member into position for engagement with the foremost blank in said stack, stop mean carried by said supporting member adapted to rest against said foremost blank, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting member regardless of the position of the latter relatively to said magazine.

17. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting arm mounted for pivotal movement about an axis fixedwith respect to said magazine and perpendicular to the line of advance of said blanks, a supporting head pivotally mounted on said arm for movement about a horizontal axis, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting head for movement transversely to said line of advance of said blanks, and means for reciprocating said feeding member relatively to said supporting head regardless of the position of said supporting arm with respect to its pivotal axis.

18. In a carton feeding mechanism of the magazine type wherein a supply of collapsed carton blanks is supported in a substantially horizontal stack with the blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, transfer means for successively removing individual blanks from said stack comprising a supporting arm mounted for pivotal movement about an axis fixed with respect to said magazine and perpendicular to the line of advance of said blanks, a supporting head pivotally mounted on said arm for movement about a horizontal axis, a feeding member slidably mounted on said supporting head for movement transversely to said line of advance of said blanks and including means for engaging the foremost blank in said stack to slide the same sideways out of said magazine, means for reciprocating head regardless of the position of said supporting arm with respect to its pivotal axis, and means carried by said supporting head for preventing the removal from said magazine of more than one blank at each stroke of said feeding mem- 19. In a carton feeding mechanism, a magazine for supporting a supply of collapsed carton blanks in a substantiallyhorizontal stack with the .blanks on edge in substantially vertical position, conveyor means for advancing the blanks in said stack to feeding position, and transfer means for successively removing individual blanks amuse adapted to adjust the magazine for use with cari6 ton blanks of different sizes.

I CHARLES F. RICHARD; 

